Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-06-13


ten out Of the way with the least possible
loss TO themselves. They had n in a vice.
a it were. To have mounted and tried
to cut our way out, through a force of
two hundred Indians, would have been
sheer folly.
In short time the ra>cals dismounted,
and a large number Of them began crawl
ing towards Us cautiously, occasionally
firing a shot. The horses and mules had
quite recovered from their fright, and
were grazing as well as their lariats and
hobbies would permit. Barlow would
not allow any ammunition 70 be wasted.
By his orders. Flanagan and another
crack-shot occasionally put in an effective
bullet but they fired only when fair
mark was presented. The Indians attempt
ed to set IRE to the grass. but it was too
green and too scant 10 burn well
The sun was now well up. and the morn
ing had become intensely hot Our can
teens had nearly all been emptied. and the
question Of water was already becoming
so serious that felt a sensation of relief
when | saw the savages preparing for
some movement.
Thus far. the conduct OF the Indians
had seemed positively cowardly; but now
their purpose seemed TO he TO Overwhelm
Us with a rush. and capture the stock
with one swoop. Down they came in a
furious charge.
Now. men, give it TO them, but don't
waste your bullets exclaimed Lieutenant
Barlow A rattling voIley followed. As
the Indians came within rife shot with
blOod-curdling yells. ponies and riders
fell. Still the savages kept on until our
fire became too deadly for them, and then
they began 10 circle around u, still yell
inc like demons, and continuing their fire.
1t was a brave charge, but we had too
strong position for our assailants. They
gradually extended the radius of their
circle until they were beyond our range,
but the wretches had succeeded in STAN
peding a dozen of our animals
We had repulsed the charge. but al
heavy cost, for Lieutenant Barlow was
living silent and motionless. with bullet
in his heart. and three private soldiers
We're also dead. Five more were wound
ed, including Flanagan. whose right arm
was broken by a shot
The command devolved upon me- and I
had anything but an encouraging task TO
undertake. The wounded men were moan
ing piteously. and CRYING for water. The
canteens were drained for their benefit,
and now the absolute dearth Of water
combined with our other perils to make
our situation desperate.
We could. however. see the Indians
carrying of their dead and wounded and
we knew that their loss had been a terri
bly, heavy one.
Whether the savages had given up all
hopes of stampeding the rest of our stock.
or revenge had goUIen the better of their
I do not know, but they now
opened fire on our animals, and the poor
beasts were killed outright. The fire upon
Us was not very severe, but it was too ef-
fective, considering the small size of our
command. One of the wounded men was
killed by stray bullet. and another man
was wounded in the course Of the after
noon.
We now had only eleven men tit for
duty l shall never forget the sunset Of
that day. The sun looked like a great
blood-red ball as il sank below the straight
line which seemed to be the western
boundary line of the plain, and its ap-
pearance seemed to be an Cmen of our ap-
preaching fate. As dusk came, ! was APP
prehensive of another attack, and you can
hardly imagine the painful anxiety with
which l watched the whole horizon.
Occasionally there was a solitary shot,
but there were no signs of any movement,
and, finally, darkness put an end TO our
fears of another assault.
It was an awful night Our rations
were eaten cold, and our thirst was 80
great that it was almost impossible to
swallow our food. We were suffering Sc
gerely. As to myself, though, almost
forgot my misery in my pity for one of
the wounded men, a mere boy in years,
whose moaning and appeals for water
were heart-rending.
Morning came With il came a renew
Al Of the desultOry firing Of the Indians,
who seemed to have determined to wear
Il out with thirst, fatigue and anxiety,
rather than trust to another open assault.
The sun, rising red and fiery in a cloud
ess sky, gave promise Of another day of
heat and pitiless thirst. Ny tongue was
swollen. and seemed TO ill my mouth, so
A. TO render articulation almost impOssi-
Die.
The Indians kept up their fire but
1ur firing ceased entirely, as / wished to
save our ammunition for use at close
quarters, in the event Of another charge.
occasionally some young brave would
ally forth and dash round u in a circle,
md one young warrior. superbly mount /.
d, with his body Enthusiastically painted 4
nd wearing a gaudy war bonnet rode /
within a hundred yards of Us. and began 4
o taunt vs. with all the ribald words in 4
is limited English vocabulary.
The mark was too tempting Two Of 4
be men fired, and brought down both 4
IOrse and rider The Indian struggled 4
o rise. then fell, and lay writhing on the
round Ny suffering had blunted my
ensibilities. and confess that in my dis
ress. seemed to take a demoniac delight
b seeing the painful struggle Of the poor
rretch-
The Indian did not lie on the ground
Jng- Another warrior. who had been
ircling around at a greater distance, At
nee put his horse At full speed and rush
d to the assistance Of his friend We
pened fire upon him, bat be disnounted.
laced the wounded warrior on his hOrse-
lounted again. and got away unharIned-
rough his horse received a wound la the
ank before be got away. II was a. brave
q act a. I ever saw.
The day wore on slowly. and ~ almost
cyan 70 hope for death. a. a release from
ur sunerings- The continuous IRE of the
indians had not been without result
Isree more Of our men were wounded
rough not dangerously. One Of the men
fho had f.--r rguuuded tha dav h.-fore